The brick pavilion at East Palestine Park, seen above, was slated for major renovations including a new deck and expanded restrooms. Village officials are reconsidering those upgrades after costs exceeded the park’s $25 million cap. (File photo by Stephanie Elverd)

EAST PALESTINE — Planned upgrades to the brick pavilion will likely be eliminated from Phase 3 of the $25 million East Palestine Park revitalization project as village leaders work to keep the development within its budget cap.

Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy said the decision comes after the village agreed to absorb a $3 million design fee as part of its $22 million settlement with Norfolk Southern — a cost not included in the original budget. With Phase 1 already under construction and Phase 2 out to bid at the time the budget ballooned, Phase 3 was the only remaining area where cuts could still be made.

“To revise that budget and keep some of those in, as well as the general cost of construction and inflation over the last few years, the park budget is expected to be over budget,” Diaz-Guy said. “My recommendation was to go through the scope and ask what makes sense and what doesn’t.”

What didn’t make sense was spending up to $1 million on the brick pavilion.

“One item clearly stood out, and that was the recommended construction on the brick pavilion,” Diaz-Guy said. “My thoughts to the community was how can we justify putting three quarters of a million or a million dollars into a building that at the end of the day couldn’t be temp-controlled properly. My proposal is that we take what probably is the most simple step and also the most responsible step and remove the brick pavilion from the scope of work and complete the rest of Phase 3 as it is and has been planned.”

The park’s design firm, Michael Baker International, hired by Norfolk Southern, presented a list of recommended cutbacks earlier this year. Those proposals included reductions to parking areas, sidewalks and site work. But village leaders opted to keep those pieces intact because they support the park’s ability to host large events.

Phase 3 includes roads, sidewalks, grading, parking, the playground, and the pavilion. Diaz-Guy said the playground is essential, noting that design changes driven by community feedback increased costs but resulted in a more robust plan, and by keeping the site work that includes lowering the parking by the brick pavilion so it is flush makes the entry ADA-compliant by eliminating the step into the building.

The other brick pavilion upgrades proposed by Norfolk Southern included a new deck, retractable doors, temperature control, bathroom expansions, and year-round usability. But the work required new electrical service, sanitary line upgrades, and significant interior renovations. Residents had long questioned the extent of the project, suggesting simpler alternatives such as a smaller concrete pad in place of the originally proposed 100-foot deck.

“As people kept providing those comments, the answer was, ‘Yeah, that makes a lot of sense,'” Diaz-Guy said.

The decision to scale back the pavilion also comes amid lingering frustration over Norfolk Southern’s previous renovation of the village’s historic train depot. The railroad spent $1 million on the depot project, replacing siding, roofing, windows and doors, and adding a new walkway and ramp.

But many residents noted the interior was left untouched — with no updates to plumbing, electrical systems or HVAC — raising questions about whether the price tag matched the visible work.

Councilman Lenny Glavan said concerns of things like a $2,000 bathroom divider for the brick pavilion factored into his hesitation to accept the high-cost renovation plan from the railroad.

“Obviously, that brick pavilion needs some TLC but moving forward on that scale and with that price of some of the things [Norfolk Southern] wanted to use from a commercial standpoint was pretty darn high,” Glavan said. “I think the reality of it is we can do a better job of enhancing the brick pavilion to meet our needs than somebody throwing a design on it, sending it to us and in a sense forcing us to do it. I do believe that the leadership we have now and the vision we could have in the future we could do just as well of a job and eliminate a lot of those costs.”

Diaz-Guy said the pavilion could still see upgrades in 2026. The village may request funds from interest earned on settlement money to make cosmetic improvements.

The East Palestine Park project is a three-phase, $25 million overhaul funded by Norfolk Southern following the 2023 train derailment. Plans include a new aquatic center with a splash pad, updated sports courts, an amphitheater, renovated playgrounds and improvements to park infrastructure. Several new courts, including pickleball and tennis, are already open to the public.